Judge: Robert B. Broadbelt, Case: 19STCV20944, Date: 2025-03-17 Tentative Ruling

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Case Number: 19STCV20944    Hearing Date: March 17, 2025    Dept: 53

Superior Court of California

County of Los Angeles – Central District

Department 53

Motion to Compel Depositions of Party-Affiliated Witnesses and Request for Monetary Sanctions

Plaintiff Dan Sackheim (“Plaintiff”) filed the pending motion to compel depositions of party-affiliated witnesses and request for monetary sanctions on October 25, 2024, requesting an order (1) compelling the depositions of seven witnesses, and (2) awarding monetary sanctions in favor of Plaintiff.  (Oct. 25, 2024 Mot., p. 2:2-10.)

On February 13, 2024, the parties in this action filed with the court an “Amended Stipulation and [Proposed] Order to Continue Trial and Related Dates; Summary Judgment Hearings; and Appoint Discovery Referee,” in which the parties stipulated that, inter alia, the Hon. Benny Osorio, Ret., shall be appointed as a discovery referee in this action.  (Feb. 13, 2024 Amended Stip., p. 4, ¶ 5.)  Thereafter, on February 20, 2024, the court issued its “Order Appointing Referee,” in which the court appointed Hon. Benny Osorio, Ret., as a discovery referee in this action pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 638 “to hear and determine any and all discovery motions and disputes relevant to discovery in the action and to report findings and make a recommendation.”  (Feb. 20, 2024 Order, ADR-110, ¶¶ 1, subd. (a), 3, 4, subd. (a)(2).)

Plaintiff’s motion to compel depositions was ruled on by the discovery referee, whose report and recommendations were adopted by the court in its order filed on November 22, 2024.  (Feb. 20, 2024 Order, ADR-110, ¶ 4, subd. (a)(2); Nov. 21, 2024 Report and Recommendations #1 re Plaintiff’s Motion to Compel Depositions of Party-Affiliated Witnesses; Order.)

The court therefore orders that plaintiff Dan Sackheim’s motion to compel depositions of party-affiliated witnesses and request for monetary sanctions, set for hearing on March 17, 2025, is taken off calendar.

            The court directs the clerk to give notice of this ruling.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED:  March 17, 2025

_____________________________

Robert B. Broadbelt III

Judge of the Superior Court